The main things

Read > Luke 24:36-49

“It was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written …: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent” (vv. 45-47).

The Scriptures pressed home by the Holy Ghost are God’s power unto salvation, and not men’s cogitations and imaginations. There is the revealed gospel.” So said Charles Haddon Spurgeon when he reflected on the nature of sharing the gospel with others. The word of God must be central. We’ve already seen in Luke 24 just how crucial words are in creating faith (vv. 6-8, 32).

In preparing His disciples for their worldwide mission, Jesus made it clear that God’s Word was central to the task. He taught them from the Old Testament, summarising God’s purpose for the world as revealed there (vv. 46-47). His teaching highlighted three events: the death of the Messiah, His resurrection, and the proclamation of His message. Now that the first two events had been fulfilled, the third could take place. Because Jesus died and has been raised to life, the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name can go forth to all nations.

Jesus said that our response to His resurrection is to be twofold. First, we must repent (a turnaround of attitude that accepts Christ’s rule over our lives) and seek His forgiveness. Second, we’re to devote our lives to getting the message of the risen King out into the world. As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples, He clarified for them and for us what our priority should be as His followers. The central purpose of the church is to proclaim His death and resurrection and call people to repent and receive forgiveness of sins.

Charles Spurgeon is right. God’s Word – the Bible – must be our primary tool in winning people for the King. We must use words – the word of Christ as we have it in the Bible. For this is the way that King Jesus continues to seek and save the lost. – Paul Baxendale

More >

·         Matthew 28:16-20

·         Acts 6:2

·         Romans 10:13-15

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Have you repented of your sin and asked Jesus for forgiveness? If not, what is stopping you?